Closure applying apparatus



May 8, 1956 A. c. EVERETT CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 8, 1954 a b f UM x w. w mm H 4 1 L M H H W w l l|| Il z 56 2 mm n m .MMIHWHHIVH I ll H|. MMMIII|I M M w 1 1 i p. w 1 1 Y AM Gin-cm,

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CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 8, 1954 /A\\\\ vu////////// f y 8, 1956 Y A. c. EVERETT 2,744,368

CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 y I N V EN TOR.

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CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 8. 1954 INVENTOR. .4rflur C. Eve/"e77" BY Jaw amm- ATTORNEY y 8 1956 A. c. EVERETT 2,744,368

CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR. Arfiur C. Eye/1979 we, qimw ATTORNEY United States Patent CLOSURE APPLYING APPARATUS Arthur C. Everett, Quincy, Mass, assignor' to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass., :1 corporation of Massachusetts Application April 8, 1954,Serial No. 421,722

Claims. (Cl. 53-67) This invention relates to closure applying apparatus.

The invention has for an object to provide novel and improved closure applying apparatus for applying screw closures to. containers and which embodies novel control mechanism for modifying the operation of the closure applying mechanism when a container is absent in the supply whereby to permit continuous operation of the machine irrespective of the absence of one or more containers.

With this general object in View and such others as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the closure applying apparatus and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at. the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a closure applying machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the closure applying machine;

Figs. 4 and S are cross-sectional views of a pneumatic valve unit forming a part of the control mechanism and shown in dilferent positions of operation;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of a portion of a driving mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a different position of operation;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the upper portion of the machine showing the transfer arm cams to be referred to;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the present control mechanism illustrating the air lines for actuating the control mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position of operation;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the pneumatic control shifting mechanism to be described; and

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position of operation.

In general the present invention is embodied in a rotary type closure applying machine for applyingscrew closures to containers, such as bottles, and wherein provision is made for transferring successive containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to successive closure gripping and applying devices at one point in a cycle of operation during the revoluble movement thereof and for transferring closures from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying devices at another point in the cycle of operation, such closures being subsequently applied to successive containers during the revoluble movement of the machine, whereupon the containers are discharged from the machine.

Prior to the present invention it has been the usual practice to provide control mechanism adapted to terminate operation of the machine in the event that a container was absent from the supply line to permit the 2,744,368 Patented. May 8, 1956 operator to replenish the supply of containers and toplace a container in operative relation to its closure applying mechanism to receive the closure previously supplied thereto.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for permitting the machine to continue in opera tion when a container is absent from the supply at the container feeding station by the provision of means for detecting the absence of a container at the feeding station and means responsive thereto for rendering, the closure transfer means inoperative to supply a closure to the particular closure applying device which would otherwise receive and apply the closure to a container normally delivered into operative relation thereto at. the container feeding station. in this manner unnecessary stopping and starting of the machine is eliminated, and the con.- tainersalready started through the machine in different stages of application of the screw closure may continue through the machine in a normal manner to be discharged therefrom without interruption.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a rotary machine for applying screw closures to containers, such as bottles, a suflicient portion of the closure applying machine being herein illustrated to enable the invention to be understood. The construction and mode of operation of the closure applying machine, except as hereinafter pointed out, may comprise that disclosed in the Everett Patent No. 2,082,048, to which reference may be made. As herein illustrated, the containers 10 may be delivered to the machine by suitable conveying mechanism including a conveyer 12 and a spirally grooved rotatable cylinder 14 adapted to engage and arrange the line of containers in spaced relation on the conveyer and to advance the containers in timed relation to successive openings in a' transfer disk 16. The transfer disk is arranged to feed the containers onto a rotary table 18 where they are engaged by clamping means, not shown, arranged to supportthe containers in alignment with their respective closure applying heads, indicated generally at 29.

The closure feeding mechanism, indicated generally at 22, may comprise any suitable form of feeding mechanism wherein provision is made for feeding the closures 23 right side up into an inclined guide or chute 24, and which may comprise a closure supply device, such as illustrated and described in the Everett Patent No. 2,082,048, above referred to. Provision is made in the illustrated machine for transferring the closures from the closure feed chute 24 into aposition to be operatively engaged by the closure gripping and applying heads 20 while the latter are revolving, and as herein shown, each closure applying head 29 is provided with an oscillatory transferring arm 26 mounted fast on the lower end of a vertical rocker shaft 28 suitably supported in brackets 30, 32 secured to the supporting casings .33 of the closure applying heads 20. The upper end of each rocker shaft 28 is provided with an arm 34 having a roller 36 arranged to cooperate with a stationary cam 38 fast on the central shaft 45 for rocking the transfer arm from a position in alignment with the end of the closure supply chute 24 to withdraw a closure therefrom, as indicated at A in Fig, 7, to a position in vertical alignment with the closure gripping element 4%) of the closure applying head, as indicated at B in Fig. 7, during the continuous rotation of the machine. Springs 42 secured at one end to a collar 44 rotatably mounted on the central stationary shaft 45 are connected to their respective arms 34- to hold the rollers against the cam 38. As herein shown, each transferring arm 25 is provided at its outer end with a raised portion 46 which is caused to pass under and engage the edge of the endmost closure extending from the inclined supply chute 24 to withdraw the closure and position the same upon the raised portion, as fully illustrated and described in the Everett Patent No. 2,082,048.

As herein illustrated, a plurality of closure applying heads are mounted to revolve about the central stationary supporting shaft 45, each closure applying head including a housing 50 provided with a gripping element and mounted for rotation and vertical reciprocation in its cylindrical casing 33. The lower end of each casing 33 is secured to a supporting ring 52 which is secured to an elongated inner sleeve 54 supported for rotation about the central shaft 45. The sleeve 54 is keyed to an outer sleeve 56 secured at its lower end to a gear 58 in mesh with a drive gear 60 fast on a Vertical shaft 62. The shaft 62 is rotated through a worm gear drive, 64 the worm being fast on a shaft 66 driven by a motor 63 through a gear reduction unit 70 and a belt drive 72. The upper end of each casing 33 may be attached to an upper supporting bracket 74 also mounted to rotate about the central supporting shaft 45. Provision is made for vertical reciprocating the gripper housings to cause the gripper elements 40 to first pick up a closure from a transfer arm 26 and then to apply the closure to the container during the revoluble movement of the housings. As herein indicated, each housing is provided with a cam roll 76 arranged to cooperate with a cam path formed in a stationary cam 78 fast on the stationary shaft 45. Each gripper housing is also arranged to be rotated about its own axis during its movement in a circular path through intermeshing gearing connections, indicated generally at 80.

As herein shown, the transfer spider 16 at the intake end of the conveyer is mounted on a vertical shaft 75 arranged to be rotated from the shaft 62 through a chain and sprocket drive 77, and a discharge spider 79 fast on the upper end of a vertical shaft 81 is arranged to be similarly rotated through a chain and sprocket drive 82. The drive to the spirally grooved spacing cylinder 14 also includes a chain and sprocket drive 84 from the shaft 62 and bevel gears 86 to a horizontal shaft 88 connected by spur gears 99 to a shaft 92. The shaft 92 is connected by a chain and sprocket drive 94 to the shaft 96 upon which the spacing cylinder 14 is mounted.

From the description thus far it will be seen that in the normal operation of the machine the containers 10 delivered into operative relation to successive closure applying heads are provided with closures and discharged from the machine, the closure Withdrawing and transfer arm 26 being actuated by the cam 38 to withdraw a closure from the supply chute at station A, as shown in Fig. '7, and to present the closure under the gripping element 40 at station B. The housing 50 is then lowered and elevated to cause the gripping element to pick up the closure whereupon the transfer arm 26 is again rocked outwardly by the cam 38 to pick up a succeeding closure at station A to be subsequently transferred to the gripping element 40 of its closure applying head for a succeeding cycle of operation. As herein indicated, the container 10 is delivered into operative relation to the closure applying head at station C at which station the gripping element 40 is in the process of picking up the previously withdrawn closure from its transfer arm 26, the arm being thereafter rocked outwardly, and the gripper ele meat 40 being then lowered to apply the closure to its containers. Thus, it will be observed that in operation a closure previously withdrawn from the supply at station A is applied to the container during the movement of the container from a point in the cycle indicated generally at D to a point indicated generally at E, the gripping element being then elevated and the container discharged at station F.

In accordance with the present invention provision is made for detecting the absence of a container in the supply at the transfer station by detecting means indicated generally at 100 in Fig. 3 and which includes a detecting arm 102 extended into the path of the containers being transferred. Provision is also made for preventing rocking of the closure transfer arm 26 in wardly at station B when the arm 102 detects the absence of a container by the provision of pneumatically operated cam switching means indicated generally at 104 so that the particular closure applying head corresponding to the position which would be occupied by the absent container will not be provided with a closure. Also, since the corresponding transfer arm 26 is already provided with a closure previously withdrawn from the supply chute 2-1 during the preceding cycle the transfer arm 26 is maintained in an outwardly rocked position beyond the end of the guide chute 24 so as to avoid withdrawal of a second closure.

As illustrated in Figs. 3, l0 and 11, the detecting arm 152 is adjustably secured in a clamp member 105 fast on the upper end of a vertical rocker shaft 108. A bell crank fast on the lower end of the rocker shaft 108 is arranged to be rocked clockwise to urge the detecting arm 102 into the path of the containers by an electromagnet 11%) disposed to attract an armature carried by one arm 106 of the bell crank. The second arm 112 of the bell crank is arranged to engage a spring-pressed valve member 114 which cooperates with an air nozzle or jet member 116 forming a part of a pneumatically operated control unit comprising a cylinder 118 having an air chamber 123 provided with a supply of compressed air from any usual or preferred regulated source of air through a pipe 122. The control unit is also provided with a piston 124 having an operating head 126 at its extended end and which is normally urged inwardly against the force of the air pressure by a coil spring 128.

In the normal operation of the machine, that is, when the containers are supplied in continuous succession, the arm 102 is rocked by engagement of successive containers to assume the position shown in Fig. 10 wherein the bell crank is rocked in a counterclockwise direction away from the electromagnet and out of engagement with the valve member 114 to permit the spring-rocked valve 114 to close the jet or nozzle 116, thus preventing escape of the air through the nozzle and increasing the pressure in the chamber to force the piston 124 down against the spring 128. Conversely, when a container is absent at the transfer station the detecting arm 102 is rocked in a clockwise direction by the electromagnet, as shown in Fig. 11, the arm 112 of the bell crank engaging the valve member 114 to rock it away from the nozzle, thus permitting escape of the air to reduce the pressure in the chamber 120 and permitting the spring 128 to urge the piston 124 inwardly against a shouldered portion, as shown in Fig. 11. The valve member 114 is pivotally mounted at 115 and may be urged into a closed position by a spring, not shown, coiled about the pivot 115.

The movement of the piston 124 inwardly when a container is absent, and outwardly when containers are supplied continuously, is arranged to control an air valve indicated generally at 130, forming a part of the pneumatically operated earn switching control mechanism 104 which is arranged to move a cam switching member 132 from an elevated position, as shown in detail in Fig. 10, to a lowered position, as shown in Fig. 11, when a container is absent, the switching member causing the transfer arm roller 36 to leave the normal cam path 38 and to follow a second cam 134 also fixed to the central stationary supporting shaft 45 and which is arranged to prevent inward rocking of the transfer arm, as described.

As herein shown, the operating head 126 of the piston 124 cooperates with a roller 136 carried by an arm 138 pivotally mounted at 140 and normally urged upwardly by a spring 142. The arm 138 is arranged to engage a spring-pressed valve stem 144 slidingly mounted in a valve housing 146 provided with an air chamber 148 having an inlet 150 connected by a pipe 152 to a regulated source of compressed air. The lower end of the 'valvestem is provided with an enlarged head portion 145, and a coil spring 147 is interposed between the head and an inner wall of the housing 146. The valve stem is provided with a reduced diameter portion 151 at its lower end immediately above the head 145, and when the valve is in its depressed position, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, the air in the chamber 148 is permitted to-pass around the reduced diameter portion through an opening in a partition member 154 and into a second chamber 156 which is connected by a pipe 158 to the upper end of the pneumatically operated switching unit 164. A second pipe 160 also connected to the main air supply pipe 152 by-passes the valve unit 130 and is directly connected to a side inlet of the pneumatically operated switching unit 104.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, the stationary cams 38 and 134 fast on the shaft 45 are disposed one above the other, the upper cam 134 having a depending rim 135 lying in the same plane as the cam 38. In the normal operation of the machine the cam roll 36 is permitted to follow the cam 38 onto the low portion 39 thereof by passing through the space 133 between the start of the low portion and the cut-away rim portion of cam 134 when the switching member 132 is in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 10, and when the switching member is in its lowered position the cam roller 36 is caused to pass from the cam 38 over the switching member 132 and onto the cam 134. As shown in Fig. 9, the upper cam 134 may be secured to and is rotatably adjustable with respect to the cam 38 by bolts 162 engageable in arcuate slots 164 formed in the cam 134.

As illustrated in detail in Figs. 12 and 13, the switching member 132 comprises an arcuate plate secured by bolts 166 to the lower end of a piston 168 supported for vertical reciprocation in a bearing member 170 extended from a bracket 172 attached to the top of the cam 134. The upper end of the piston is reduced in diameter to form a stem 174 extended through the lower end of a .cylinder 176, the stem terminating in a head portion 178 mounted for vertical reciprocation in an air chamber 180 formed in the cylinder. The cylinder 176 may be supported on a base member 182 extended from the supporting bracket 172, as shown.

The piston head 178 is normally arranged to be urged upwardly by the air pressure in the chamber 180 to maintain the switching member 132 in its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 13, when the containers are fed in continuous succession so as to maintain the valve unit 130 open and permit the air to enter the pipe 158. The pipe 158 communicates with a chamber 184 in the switch control unit 104 and in which a slide valve 186 is mounted for lateral sliding movement. The slide valve 186 is urged to the right, as shown in Fig. 12, by a coil spring 188 and is arranged to be moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 13, by the pressure of the air in the chamber 184.

When the slide valve 186 is moved to the left a passageway 190 formed in the valve is aligned with a passageway 192 in the cylinder which communicates through passageways 193, 194, 195 and 196 with the lower end of the piston chamber 136 to urge the piston upwardly. The upper end of the chamber 181) is open to the atmosphere at this time through passageways 198, 200 in the cylinder,

"passageway 202 in the slide valve 186 and passageway 204 in the cap member 2113.

When a container is absent from the supply line at the transfer station the valve unit 136 is closed by the valve stem 144, as shown in Fig. 5, wherein the head portion 145 of the stem engages the underside of the partition 154 to close the opening between the chambers 148 and 156 of the valve unit 131 When this occurs the air is out 011 from the pipe 158, and the slide valve 186 is moved to the right in Fig. 12 by the spring 188 to cut off communication between the passageways 190, 192 and to align passageway 192 with a through passageway 206 formed in the valve member 186 and with a passageway 208 in the cap member 203 which is open to the atmosphere. Thus, the air under the piston 178 is permitted to escape through passageways 196, 195, 194, 193, 192, 206 and 208. The pipe communicates with a passageway 210 in the cap member 203 and is normally cut off from communication with the chamber 181? by the slide valve 186, as shown in Fig. 13. However, when the valve 186 is moved to the right, as described, the passageway 210 is aligned with the passageway 262 which communicates with the top of the piston chamber through passageways 213i) and 198 to urge the piston 178 down and dispose the switching member 132 in its lowered or operative position to effect shifting of the cam roll 36 from the cam 38 to the cam 134.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, provision is also made for switching the transfer arm cam roll 36 back to its normal position in engagement "with cam 38 after it has passed the closure supply station A. As herein shown, a curved switching arm 212 is pivotally'mounted at 214 in a bracket 216 carried by the upper cam 134, the free end of the switch arm 212 being connected by a telescopic link connection 218 to a pin 220 fixed in the top of the cam 134. The switch arm 212 is thus free to move from the dotted line position to the full line position, as shown in Fig. 8, when a transfer arm roll 36 passes from the cam 134 to the switch arm 212, the pressure of the roll causing the arm to rock and retract or shorten the telescopic link and to present the outer end of the arm 212 against the cam 38 to return the roll 36 and the transfer arm to its normal position. A succeeding transfer arm roll 36 in normal engagement with the cam 38 will engage the inside face of the switch arm 212 and rock the same outwardly to permit normal passage of the roll 36 along its cam 33.

As also shown in Figs. 8 and 9, one'end of the switch member 132 is arranged to fit into a cutout portion formed in the end of the depending rim 135 to present the outer surface of the switch substantially flush with the outer surface of the cam 134. The other end of the switch member is preferably beveled or tapered to fit substantially tangent to the rounded edge of the cam 38, as illustrated. In order to guide the switching member v132 into and out of register with the cams 134, 38 eccentrically mounted sleeves or cylinders 222, 224 are secured to their respective cams by bolts 226, 228, the sleeves forming adjustable bearing surfaces against which the ends of the switching member ride during reciprocation thereof.

From the above description it will be seen that the present closure applying machine is adapted to continue in operation when a container is absent from the supply at the transfer station whereby to eliminate unnecessary stopping and startingof the machine and to prevent loss of production occasioned by such stopping and starting. This feature is of particular advantage in a high speed closure applying machine wherein excessive stopping and starting of the machine exerts undue wear and tear on the operating parts which tends to reduce the life of the machine. The present continuously operated machine is also adapted for use in a continuously operated line of bottling machines which may include bottle cleaning, filling, closure applying and labeling machines, the present machine continuing in operation to receive and discharge containers delivered thereto irrespective of the absence of one or more containers in the supply line, and thus reducing to a minimum interruption in the operation of the several machines making up the line.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a closure applying machine, in combination, closure applying means adapted to applya screw closure to a container, means for feeding successive containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying means, closure supply means, means for withdrawing closures from the supply means and transferring the same to the applying means for application to a container, said transfer means being movable from a path in alignment with the closure supply means to a second path in ali nment with the applying means, control means including means for detecting the absence of a container at a selected position in the feeding of the containers to the closure applying means, and means responsive to said detecting means for preventing movement of the transfer means into said second path in alignment with the applying means whereby to prevent transfer of a closure to the applying means when the absence of a container is detected.

2. In a continuously operated closure applying machine, in combination, closure applying means adapted to apply a screw closure to a container, means for feeding containers from a. supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying means, closure supply means, means for withdrawing closures from the supply means and transferring the same to the applying means for application to a container, said transfer means being movable from a path in alignment with the closure supply means to a second path in alignment with the applying means. control means including means for detecting the absence of a container at a selected position in the feeding of the containers to the closure applying means, and means responsive to said detecting means for preventing movement of the transfer means into said second path in alignment with the applying means whereby to prevent transfer of a withdrawn closure to the applying means when the absence of a container is detected whereby to permit continuous operation of the machine irrespective of a failure in the continuity of the supply of containers.

3. In a continuously operated closure applying machine, in combination, closure applying means adapted to apply a screw closure to a container, means for feeding containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying means, closure supply means, means for withdrawing closures from the supply means and transferring the same to the applying means for application to a container, said transfer means being movable from a path in alignment with the closure supply means to a second path in alignment with the applying means, control means including means for detecting the absence of a container at a selected position in the feeding of the containers to the closure applying means, and means responsive to said detecting means for preventing movement of the transfer means into said second path in alignment with the applying means whereby to prevent transfer of a withdrawn closure to the applying means and for controlling the operation of said transfer means to prevent SLllJSCClLlGfllI movement of the transfer means into said first path in alignment with the closure supply means to prevent withdrawal of a second closure from the supply when the absence of a container is detected whereby to permit continuous operation of the machine irrespective of a failure in the continuity of the supply of containers.

4. In a continuously operated rotary closure applying machine having plurality of closure applying heads adapted to apply screw closures to containers, means for feeding containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to successive applying heads, closure supply means, means associated with each applying head for withdrawing closures from the supply means and for subsequently trans -erring the withdrawn closure to its applying head for application to a container, said transfer means being movable from a path in alignment with the closure supply means to a second path in alignment with the applying head, control means including means for detecting the absence of a container at a selected position in the feeding of the containers to the closure applying means, and means responsive to said detecting means for preventing movement of the transfer means into said second path in alignment with the applying head to prevent transfer of a withdrawn closure to its applying head and for controlling the operation of said transfer means to prevent subsequent movement of the same into said first path in alignment with the closure supply means to prevent withdrawal of a second closure from the closure supply means when the absence of a container is detected whereby to permit continuous operation of the machine irrespective of a failure in the supply of containers.

5. In a continuously operated rotary closure applying machine having a plurality of closure applying heads adapted to apply screw closures to containers, means for feeding containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to su cessive applying heads, closure supply means, a transfer arm associated with each applying head for withdrawing closures from the supply means and for subse uently transferring the withdrawn closure to its applying head for application to a container, a cam for controlling the operation of said transfer arm, control means including means for detecting the absence of a container at a selected position in the feeding of the containers to the closure applyin means, a second cam arranged to control the movement of the transfer arm to prevent transfer of a withdrawn closure and to prevent withdrawal of a second closure by the transfer arm, a normally inoperative switching member for shifting the control of the transfer arm from the first to the second cam, and means responsive to said detecting means for moving said switching member into operative shifting position relative to said cams when the absence of a container is detected by said detecting means whereby to permit continuous operation of the closure applying machine irrespective of a failure in the supply of containers.

6. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 5 which includes a second switching member disposed to return a switched transfer arm from the second cam to the first cam after passing the closure supply means.

7. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the switching member is pneumatically operated.

8. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the switching member is pneumatically operated, and wherein the detecting means includes a detecting arm engageable with the container and arranged to actuate said pneumatically operated switching member when a container is absent.

9. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 5 wherein the machine is operated in cycles and wherein a closure withdrawn from the supply during one cycle of operation is applied to a container during a succeeding cycle of operation, and wherein a transfer arm provided with a closure intended for an absent container is retained by the arm for transfer and application to a container during the following cycle.

10. The combination with a closure applying machine having closure applying mechanism capable of applying a screw closure to a container, container feeding means, closure supply means, means for Withdrawing and transferring closures from the supply means to the applying mechanism, said transfer means being movable from a path in alignment with the closure supply means to a second path in alignment with the applying mechanism, and control means for preventing movement of the transfer means into said second path in alignment with the applying mechanism whereby to prevent transfer of a withdrawn closure to the applying mechanism in the event of failure in the supply of containers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS l,964,(l78 Podel June 26, 1934 2,966,259 Everett Dec. 29, 1936 2,082,048 Everett June 1, 1937 2,309,929 Bronson Feb. 2, 1943 

